Camelia Entekhabi-Fard

Presidential candidates in Afghanistan wrapped up the official campaign period on October 6 - 72 hours before the polls open. The presidential vote, and parliamentary elections scheduled for 2005, is widely viewed as pivotal for Afghanistan's democratization process.

A few, determined Afghan women are making the most of whatever economic opportunities are open to them  mostly in home-related spheres such as craft making. Fahimeh, a 23-year-old former refugee who returned from Iran, is one such entrepreneur, who has overcome numerous obstacles to establish a successful small business.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is pressing ahead with efforts to consolidate his political authority ahead of presidential elections in just over two months. Karzai appears to have been bolstered by reports that a voter registration drive has encountered surprising success in recent weeks.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai may come to rue the day he dumped Gen. Mohammad Fahim as one of his vice presidents, warned one of the incumbent's leading challengers in the upcoming presidential election. Yunus Qanooni, who, like Fahim, is an ethnic Tajik, told EurasiaNet that Karzai lacks the ability to rein in the country's warlords.

Continuing disorder in Afghanistan appears to be forcing a second realignment of the country's election timetable. Officials in Kabul now indicate that presidential and parliamentary elections will be decoupled, with the presidential poll being pushed back until mid October and the legislative vote coming as late as next spring.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazzi, began a European tour on May 3 by pledging that the Tehran would be a "good partner" for the European Union. Kharazzi's chief aim during his tour is to prevent the EU from joining the United States in exerting pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

The Iraqi uprising against US occupying forces is fueling a strategic dilemma not only for the Bush administration, but also for Iran's leadership. Though guided by markedly different geopolitical considerations, both Washington and Tehran are probing for ways to defuse the uprising. Iran has sought to take advantage of its religious connection to Iraqi Shi'as.

International donors have pledged $8.2 billion over three years to foster Afghanistan's reconstruction. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pronounced himself satisfied with the international aid commitment, despite the fact that it is less than one-third of the amount that he sought heading into the March 31-April 1 Berlin donors' conference.

Afghanistan's stabilization process is in the midst of a critical phase. The recent violence in western Herat Province has exposed the central government's weakness, and threatens to disrupt the country's political transition. This is placing pressure on President Hamid Karzai to take quickly action to compel the loyalty of regional warlords.